Awford’s delight at double swoop

Steve Wilson

Andy Awford believes he has added the ideal blend of youth and experience to his Pompey defensive ranks after his double loan swoop.

The Blues boss yesterday secured deals until the end of the season for vastly-experienced centre-back, Nyron Nosworthy and promising QPR talent, Cole Kpekawa, to cover the recent injuries.

Both Paul Robinson and Jack Whatmough look set to miss the remainder of the season with a fractured cheekbone and knee ligament damage respectively, which has left Awford light on defensive options.

At 34 years old and with more than 400 club games behind him at Gillingham, Sunderland, Sheffield United, Watford and most recently Blackpool, Nosworthy has been drafted in to help fill the void left by Robinson.

Kpekawa, meanwhile, is just 18 years old and has played only four league games in a loan spell at Colchester United this term, but can play at centre-back and at left-back or left wing-back.

And Awford insists he would have no hesitation in throwing both new recruits straight into his starting line-up in tomorrow’s League Two showdown at AFC Wimbledon.

Awford said: ‘I’m delighted to get them both and I would have no qualms about playing them at Wimbledon.

‘We will have a look at a few things but we certainly have that option.

‘Nyron brings huge experience. He has played an awful lot of games for a lot of clubs and gives us something that I felt we needed with Paul being out.

‘I’ve done my homework on him and spoke to some of his previous managers.

I’m delighted to get them both and I would have no qualms about playing them at Wimbledon

Andy Awford

‘Everyone spoke very highly of him, I’m sure he will fit in well and thanks to Blackpool for allowing us to take him.

‘We have watched Cole a number of times over the course of the season.